Night World : Soulmate Chapter 13

Dont fight, he panted into her side of meat. Itll be easier if you just relax.Hannah was frightened-and furious. In your dreams she gasped and slammed a knee into his groin.She hadnt survived Maya and come thousands of miles to be killed by some weasel of a vampire.She could feel him trying to do something to her mind-it reminded her of the way Maya had capturedHa-nahkts eyeb every last(predicate). Some kind of hypnosis, she supposed. just now shed had enough of hypnosis in the lastweek. She fought it.And she fought with her body, unskillfully maybe, but with utter conviction. She head-butted him on thenose when he tried to get close to her neck. Ow The Artful Dodger jerked back. Then he got a better grip on her arm. He pulled the wrist towardhim and Hannah suddenly realised what he wasdoing. There were nice accessible veins there. He was going to draw inventory from her wrist.No, you dont, she gasped. She had no idea what would happen if she lost any more than blood to avamp ire. Thierry had utter she wasnt in risk as long as she kept away from them for the next week, soshe presumed that if she didnt stand away, she was in danger. And she was already noticing teensy changesin herself her ability to see better in the bleached, for instance.She tried to wrench her arm out of the sons grip- and whence she heard a gasp. Suddenly she realized thathe wasnt holding her as tightly, and he wasnt trying to pull her wrist to him. Instead he was just trailing ather hand.At her ring.The expression on his face might turn in been funny if Hannah hadnt been shaking with adrenaline. Helooked shocked, dismayed, scared, disbelieving, and embarrassed all at once.Who-who-who are you? he spluttered.Hannah looked at the ring, and then at him. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? She shouldhave mentioned Thierry right away. If he was a Lord of the nighttime World, maybe everybody knew him.Maybe she could skip the witches altogether.I told you I was looking fo r somebody. His forebode is Thierry Descouedres. He gave me this ring.The Artful Dodger gave a kind of moan. Then he looked up at her from under his spiky bangs. I didnthurt you, did I? he tell. It wasnt a question, it was a demand for agreement. I didnt do anything toyou.You didnt get the chance, Hannah say. entirely she was afraid the boy might just take off running, so sheadded, I dont take to get you in trouble. I just want to amaze Thierry. Can you help me?I help you. Yeah, yeah. I bum be a plumping help.- He hesitated, then said, Its kind of a long walk.A walk? Thierry was here? Hannahs heart leaped so high that her whole body felt light.Im not tired, she said, and it was true. I can walk anywhere.The house was enormous.Magnificent. Palatial, even. Awe-inspiring.The Artful Dodger abandoned Hannah at the beginning of the long palm-tree-lined drive, blurting, Thatsit, and then scampering off into the darkness. Hannah looked after him for a moment, then grimly startedup the drive, sincerely hoping that it was it. She was so tired that she was weaving and her feet felt as iftheyd been pounded with stones.As she walked up to the front door, though, her doubts disappeared. There were black roseseverywhere. There was an arch-shaped stained-glass window above the double doors, viewing a black rose that hadthe same intricately knotted stem as the one on Hannahs ring. The same inclination had been worked into thecrowns all over the windows. It was used like a family crest or seal.Just seeing all those roses made Hannahs heart beat faster.Okay, then. Ring the doorbell, she told herself. And turn back opinion like some Cinderella whos come to seewhats keeping the prince.She pushed the doorbell button, then held her snorkel breather as chimes echoed distantly.Please. Please answer.She heard footsteps approaching and her heart sincerely started to pound.I cant believe its all been this easy.But when the door unfastened, it wasnt Thierry. It was a col lege-age poke fun with a suit, brown blur pulledback into a short ponytail, and dark glasses. He looked vaguely like a young CIA agent, Hannah thoughtwildly.He and Hannah stared at each some other.Uh, Im here to Im looking for Thierry Des-couedres, Hannah said finally, trying to sound confident.The CIA guy didnt change expression. When he spoke, it wasnt unkindly, but Hannahs heartplummeted.Hes not here. Try again in a few days. And its better to call one of his secretaries before showing up.He started to shut the door.A wave of desperation broke over Hannah. Wait she said, and she actually stuck her foot in thedoorway. She was amazed at herself.The CIA guy looked mickle at her foot, then up at her face. Yes?Oh, God, he thinks Im a nuisance visitor. Hannah suddenly had a vision of swarms of petitioners linedup at Thierrys house, all deficient him to do something for them. Like supplicants waiting for an audiencewith the king.And I must look like riffraff, she thought. She was wearing Levis and a shirt that was sweaty andwrinkled after tramping around the despoil all day. Her boots were dusty. Her hair was limp anddisheveled, straggling over her face.Yes? the CIA guy said again, politely urgent. .I nothing. Hannah felt tears spring to her eyes and was furious with herself. She hid them by bendingdown to pick up her duffel bag, which by now felt as if it were loaded with rocks. She had never been so tired. Her mouth was dry and cottony and her muscles were starting to cramp.She had no idea where to find a safe place to sleep.But it wasnt the CIA guys problem.Thank you, Hannah said. She in additionk a deep breath and started to turn away.It was the deep breath that did it. Someone was crossing the grand entrance hall behind the CIA guyand the breath delayed Hannah long enough that they saying each other.Nilsson, wait the individual yelled and came bounding over to the door.It was a young lady, thin and tanned, with odd silvery-brown hair and dark ambe r eyes. She had severalyellowing bruises on her face.But it was her expression that startled Hannah. Her amber eyes were wide and sparkling in what lookedlike recognition, her mouth was open in astonishment and excitement. She was waving her arms.Thats her she yelled at the CIA guy, pointing to Hannah. Its her Its her. When he stared at her,she hit him in the shoulder. HerThey both turned to stare at Hannah. The CIA guy had an expression now. He looked stunned.Hannah stared back at them, bewildered.Then, seeming dazed, the CIA guy very slowlyopened the door. My name is Nilsson, miss, he said. Please come inside.Stupid me, Hannah thought. Almost as an afterthought, she pushed straggling hair off her left cheek,away from her birthmark. I should have told them who I was. But how could I know they wouldunderstand?Nilsson was talking again as he gently took her bag. Im very sorry, miss-I didnt realize I hope youwont hold this-Nobody knew you were coming, the girl broke in with refreshin g bluntness. And the worst thing is thatThierrys gone off somewhere. I dont think anybody knows where or when hell be back. But meanwhileyoud better stay put. I dont want to think around what hed do to us if we lost you. She smiled atHannah and added, Im Lupe Acevedo.Hannah Snow.I know. The girl winked. We met before, but I couldnt exactly introduce myself. Dont you call up?Hannah started to shake her head-and then she blinked. Blinked again. That silvery-brown coloringthose amber eyesYeah, Lupe said, looking hugely delighted. That was me. Thats how I got these bruises. The otherwolf got it worse, though. I ripped him a new- Would you like something to drink? Nilsson break up hastily. Or to eat? Why dont you come inand sit down?Hannahs mind was reeling. That girl is a werewolf, she thought. A werewolf. The last time I saw her shehad big ears and a bushy tail. Werewolves are real.And this one protected me.She said dizzily, I thank you. I mean, you saved my life, didnt you?Lupe shr ugged. Part of the job. Want a bump?Hannah blinked, then laughed. Id kill for one.Ill take care of it, Nilsson said. Ill take care of everything. Lupe, why dont you show her upstairs?He hurried off and opened a cellular phone. A moment later several other guys dressed like him camerunning. The strange thing was that they were all very young-all in their late teens. Hannah caughtsnatches of frantic-sounding conversation.Well, try that number-What well-nigh(predicate) leaving a message with-Come on, Lupe said, interrupting Hannahs eavesdropping. With that same cheerful bluntness sheadded, You look like you could use a bath.She led Hannah past a big white sculpture toward a wide curving staircase. Hannah glimpsed otherrooms opening off the hallway. A living room that looked as big as a football field, decorated with whitecouches, geometric furniture, and abstract paintings. A dining room with a mile-long table. An alcove witha grand piano.Hannah felt more like Cinderella than ever. Nobody in Medicine Rock had a grand piano.I didnt know he was so rich. I dont know if I can deal with this.But when she was installed in a sort of Moorish fantasy bathroom, surrounded by jungly light-green plantsand exotic tiles and brass globe lights with cut-out star shapes, she decided that she could probablyadjust to living this way. If forced.It was heaven just to relax in the Jacuzzi tub, drinking a Coke and breathing in the delicious smellof bath salts. And it was even better to sit up in bed afterward, eating finger sandwiches sent up by Chef and telling Lupe how she came to be in Las Vegas.When she was done, Lupe said, Nilsson and everybody are trying to find Thierry. It may take a littlewhile, though. See, he just stopped off for a few minutes on Saturday, and then he disappeared again.But meanwhile, this house is pretty well protected. And all of us will fight for you-I mean, fight to thedeath, if we have to. So its safer than most other places.Hannah felt a roiling in her stomach. She didnt understand. Lupe made it sound as if they were in some castle getting ready for a siege. Safe from ?Lupe looked surprised. From her-Maya, she said, as if it should be obvious.Hannah had a sinking feeling. I should have known, she thought. But all she said was, So you think Imstill in danger from her.Lupes eyebrows shot up. She said mildly, Well, sure. Shes going to try to kill you. And shes awfullygood at killing.Especially me, Hannah thought. But she was too tired to be much afraid. Trusting to Lupe and Nilssonand the rest of Thierrys household, she devolve asleep that night as shortly as her head touched the pillow.She woke up to see sunshine. It was reflecting off the bedroom walls, which were painted a softly burnished gold. Weird but beautiful, Hannah thought, looking dreamily around at ebony furniture anddecorative tribal masks. Then she remembered where she was and jumped out of bed.She found clean clothes-her size-lying on an elaborately carved chest . She had just finished pulling themon when Lupe knocked on the door.Lupe, have they-Lupe shook her silvery-brown head. They havent found him yet.Hannah sighed, then smiled, trying not to look too disappointed.Lupe made a sympathetic face. I know. While you wait, though, you might like to meet some people.She grinned. Theyre sort of special people, and its a secret that theyre even here. But I talked to themlast night, and they all decided that it would be okay. They all want to meet you.Hannah was curious. Special people? ar they humans or uh ?Lupe grinned even more widely. Theyre both. Thats why theyre special. As she talked, she wasleading Hannah downstairs and through miles of hallway. They did something for me, she said, notsmiling now, but serious. They saved my life and my moms life. See, Im not a purebred werewolf. Mydad was human.Hannah looked at her, startled.Yeah. And thats against the laws of the Night World. You cant fall in love with a human, much lessmarry them. The other werewolves came one night and killed my dad. They would have killed my momand me, too, but Thierry got us out of the city and hid us. Thats why Id do anything for him. I wouldntbe alive if it wasnt for him and stage set Daybreak.She had paused by the door of a room located toward the back of the house. this instant, she opened thedoor, gave Hannah a funny little nod and a wink, and said, You go meet them. I think youll like eachother. Youre their type.Hannah wasnt sure what this meant. She felt shy as she stepped over the threshold and looked aroundthe room. It was a den, smaller than the front living room, and more cozy, with furniture in warm ochers and burntsiennas. A breakfast calamity was set out on a long sideboard made of golden pine. It smelled good, butHannah didnt have time to look at it. As soon as she came in the room, every head turned and she founda dozen people staring at her.Young people. All around her age. Normal-type teenagers, withdraw that a surprising number of themwere extremely good-looking.Behind her, the door closed firmly. Hannah felt more and more as if shed just walked out on present andforgotten her lines.Then one of the girls sitting on an ottoman jumped up and ran to her. Youre Hana, arent you? she saidwarmly. Hannah. Yes.I cant believe Im really meeting you This is so exciting. Thierrys told us all about you. She put agentle hand on Hannahs arm. Hannah, this is Circle Daybreak. And my name is Thea Harman.She was almost as tall as Hannah was, and the yellow hair spilling over her shoulders was a few shadesdarker than Hannahs. Her eyes were brownand soft and somehow wise.Hi, Thea. Somehow Hannah felt instinctively at ease with this girl. Lupe was telling me about CircleDaybreak, but I didnt exactly understand.It started as a sort of witch organization, Thea said. A witch circle. But its not just for witches. Its forhumans and vampires and werewolves and shapeshifters and, well, anybody who wants to help NightPeople and humans get along. Come and meet the others and well try to explain.A few minutes later, Hannah was sitting on a couch with a photographic plate of eggs Benedict, being introduced.This is James and Poppy, Thea said. James is a Redfern on his mothers side-which makes him adescendant of Mayas. She glanced at James with gentle mischief.I didnt pick my parents. Believe me, I didnt, James said to Hannah. He had light brown hair andthoughtful gray eyes. When he smiled it was impossible not to smile back.Nobody would have picked your parents, Jamie, Poppy said, shove him. She was very small, butthere was a kind of impish wisdom in her face. Her head was a tangle of copper curls and her eyes wereas green as emeralds. Hannah found her elfin beauty just a little scary just a little inhuman.Theyre both vampires, Thea said, answering Hannahs unspoken question.I didnt used to be, Poppy said. James changed me because I was dying.Whats a soulmate for? James said, and Poppy poked him again and th en grinned at him. They wereobviously in love.Youre-soulmates? Hannah spoke softly, wistfully.It was Thea who answered. Thats the thing, you see-something is causing Night People to find human soulmates. We witches think that its some Power thats waking up again, making it happen. Some Powerthats been asleep for a long time- maybe since the time when Thierry was born.Now Hannah understood why Lupe had said she was Circle Daybreaks type of people. She was partof this.But-thats wonderful, she said, speaking slowly and trying to gather her thoughts. I mean Shecouldnt exactly explain why it was so wonderful, but she had a sense of some immense turning pointbeing reached in the world, of some cycle that was about to end.Thea was smiling at her. I know what you mean. We think so, too. She turned and held out a hand to avery tall boy with a sweet face, sandy hair, and hazelnut eyes. And this is my soulmate, Eric. Hes human.Just barely, a boy from the other side of the room said. Eric igno red him and smiled at Hannah.And this is Gillian and David, Thea said, moving around the circle. Gillians a distant first cousin of mine, awitch, and Davids human. Soulmates, again.Gillian was tiny, with white-blond hair that fit her head like a silky cap and deep violet eyes. David haddark hair, brown eyes, and a lean tanned face. They both smiled at Hannah.Thea was moving on. And next comes Rashel and Quinn. Rashel is human-she used to be a vampirehunter.I still am. But now I just hunt bad vampires, Rashel said coolly. Hannah had an instinctive feelingof respect for her. She was tall and seemed to have perfect control of her body. Her hair was black andher eyes were a fierce and blazing green.And Quinns a vampire, Thea said.Quinn was the boy whod made the barely-human remark. He was very good-looking, with cleanfeatures that were strongly chiseled but almost delicate. His hair was as black as Rashels, and his eyeswere black, too. He flashed Hannah a smile that, while beautiful, w as slightly unnerving.Quinns the only one here who can compete with you as far as the past goes, Thea added. He wasmade into a vampire back in the sixteen hundreds, by Hunter Redfern.Quinn flashed another smile. Did you have a life in colonial America? Maybe weve met.Hannah smiled in return, but she was also studying him with interest. He didnt look older than eighteen.Is that why everybody here looks so young? she asked. All the staff, I mean-Nilsson and the otherguys in suits. Are they all vampires?Thea nodded. All made vampires. Lamia, like James, can grow up if they want. But once you make ahuman into a vampire they stop aging-and you cant make somebody over nineteen into a vampire. Theirbodies cant make the change. They just burn out.Hannah felt an odd chill, almost of premonition. But before she could say anything, a new voiceinterrupted. Speaking of the lamia, isnt anybody going to introduce me?Thea turned toward the window. Sorry, Ash-but if youre going to sleep over there, you cant blameus for forgetting you. She looked at Hannah. This is another Redfern, a cousin of Jamess. His name isAsh.Ash was gorgeous, lanky and elegant, with ash-blond hair. But what startled Hannah as he got up andunhurriedly walked to meet her was his eyes.They were like Mayas eyes, shifting color from moment to moment. The likeness was so strikingthat it was a moment before Hannah could take his hand.Hes got Mayas genes, Hannah thought. He smiled at her, then sprawled on the loveseat.Were not all of Circle Daybreak, of course, Thea said. In fact, were some of the newest members.And were from all over the country-North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, everywhere. ButThierry called us together specially, to talk about the soulmate principle and the old Powers awakening.That was last week, before he found out about you, copper-haired Poppy said. And before he ranoff. But weve been talking without him, trying to figure out what to do next.Hannah said, Whatever it is, Id lik e to help you.They all looked pleased. But Thea said, You should think about it first. Were dangerous people toknow.Were on everybodys hit list, Rashel, the black-haired vampire hunter, said dryly.Weve got the whole Night World against us, Ash said, rolling his ever-changing eyes.Against us. You just said us. James turned on his cousin triumphantly, as if hed just won a point in anargument. You admit youre a part of us.I dont have anyAsh looked at the ceiling, choice.But you do, Hannah, Thea interrupted. She smiled at Hannah, but her soft brown eyes were serious.You dont have to be in any more danger than you are now.I think- Hannah began. But before she could finish, there was an explosion of noise from somewhereoutside.